Manchester United star Michael Carrick: I can still help England

The Manchester United midfielder has won just 31 caps despite making his England debut back in 2001.

He has found himself on the fringes of the set-up and has often been overlooked in favour of centurions Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, as well as the likes of Gareth Barry and Scott Parker.

Carrick, 33, got so frustrated with his lack of chances that he took himself out of consideration in 2012 when he refused to go on the standby list for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

But Roy Hodgson refused to hold it against him and will be glad he didn't, considering the veteran star has now emerged as one of the finest players in his position in the country.

Carrick, who is currently producing some of the best form of his career at United, remains understated both on and off the pitch.

MIDFIELD MAESTRO: Michael Carrick is in fine form this season [GETTY]

“I feel fortunate to have been able to play for England to start with. When you compare it with others and ask 'is it enough?', I obviously feel I should have had more”

Michael Carrick

But the fact is he stands head and shoulders above anyone else as the leading holding midfielder available to Hodgson.

Carrick, who has made just one appearance at a major tournament, knows Euro 2016 in France will be his last chance.

He said: "There is plenty to achieve, loads to achieve. It is hard to look too far ahead. I don't even know what we're achieving in the next few weeks yet - especially at United.

"And certainly at England, we're in a good position at the moment looking ahead to next summer. It is dangerous to look far ahead to next summer at this stage, it is week by week and game by game.

"But I am well aware that when you get to a certain age you take it year by year and see how it is going.

"At the moment I feel fine. I'd love to have another real crack at it. Have another crack and try to have a bigger influence in the team and the squad is the target. Getting to France and having success there is certainly my target."

Carrick, who admires the qualities of Andrea Pirlo and Xabi Alonso, has no regrets about how his England career has panned out.

He added: "I've said many times that there were times when I felt I could have had more of a chance and others when it didn't go so well, for whatever reason. I'm not complaining.

"I feel fortunate to have been able to play for England to start with. When you compare it with others and ask 'is it enough?', I obviously feel I should have had more.

"That's the nature of the game. Sometimes it's gone well, sometimes it hasn't. As a career over a period I feel I should have had more caps, but it's not something I'm sitting here regretting at this stage. There is still more to come."